When we last left Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) in “Wicked,” the former defied gravity and took to the western sky, leaving her BFF/nemesis behind in Oz.
In “Wicked: For Good” (Universal) – which “clock ticks” in at nearly two hours and 20 minutes – Glinda, now known as Glinda the Good, is more “popular” than ever. A top-notch self-promoter, she’s also been aided by Madame Morrible’s (Michelle Yeoh) nefarious publicity machinery.
Meanwhile, Elphaba has been branded the Wicked Witch of the West, all because she knows the truth about the less-than-Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum). Her sister Nessa (Marissa Bode), now the governor of Munchkinland, is still romantically linked to her servant Boq (Ethan Slater). However, there are cracks in that façade. Additionally, Prince Fiyero (out actor Jonathan Bailey), having risen in the ranks of the Guards, has a surprise engagement to Glinda sprung on him in a very public setting. So, there’s now a wedding in the mix, even though Fiyero’s heart (beneath his lightly hairy pecs) is elsewhere.
“Wicked: For Good” is considerably darker than its predecessor. Storylines hinted at in the first part are out in the open, including the silencing, imprisonment, and exodus of the animal population, a not-so-thinly veiled political subject that feels very topical since a certain convicted felon has returned to the White House. In fact, there are quite a few unsettling moments, including extended depictions of violence, that deserve a trigger warning for younger audience members who flocked to see the previous movie. Moreover, there is an unexpectedly amorous moment between two characters (no spoilers) that might raise a few eyebrows.
Almost as if to justify the existence of a second installment, “Wicked: For Good” contains two new songs, “No Place Like Home” and “The Girl in the Bubble,” written by Stephen Schwartz. Some of the existing songs, including the tearjerker Elphaba/Glinda duet “For Good” and the visually sensational production number “Wonderful,” performed by Goldblum, Erivo, and Grande, rank as highlights.
Furthermore, “Wicked: For Good” provides the origin stories for cowardly lion Brrr, the Tinman, and the Scarecrow (all of whom have their roots in existing characters). There is also the appearance of yellow brick road, the tornado that brings Dorothy to Oz, and even Dorothy herself. Scenes from the previous “Wicked” movie are interwoven, which also help to refresh our short memory.
Bloated and yet as thin as the bubble in which Glinda is transported, we must never forget that Jon Chu is responsible for the execrable “Jem and the Holograms,” and should probably be discouraged from ever stepping behind a camera again.
Rating D+
